Humbled and Grateful

As a military family, we experience periodic extended separations. There is so much I could say about these, but I wanted to narrow in on one lesson that God faithfully teaches me during these times - humbleness and gratefulness.

It seems like there is usually once during each of Chris's long trips that I have to swallow my pride and ask for help. Let me tell you, it's my very least favorite thing to do and the hardest thing for me to do! It ranges anywhere from asking someone to watch the kids in an emergency to shoveling the drive to mowing the grass to fixing our water heater or even crying to a listening ear (yes, these have all happened and some more than once!) I find that I just have to get over myself and ask. Every single person that I've asked for help has not only agreed to help, but has done it with abundant grace and a big smile. That is humbling!! I nearly always have tears in my eyes when the task is completed knowing what a gift it was for them to take time from their lives and families and serve our family. I'm also usually beyond words to be able to express the depth of gratitude to God for working out the details perfectly and once again so faithfully providing for our family - not matter what the issue may be.

All of that to say, "thank you" doesn't seem like enough to say to those of you that have helped us out. Thank you to all of you for being such an integral part of God's plan in our lives!! Your love goes beyond the act of serving and right to my heart. I am humbled and grateful!

Quiet Time for My Little Ones

I must admit that there was a time in my life when I didn't spend quiet time with Jesus. However, it is a discipline that has grown into a time that I have found I've needed that provides a quietness and calmness to my day and my life. It's also a discipline that I would like to instill into my little trio. I don't have all the answers regarding resources, but it is interesting that it has been the topic of conversation recently. I thought I'd summarize some of the things I've done with my little ones as well as some ideas that I've heard from others in case this is something you'd like to do with your little ones or just in need of ideas. I must give thanks to my sister and a couple of friends that are my major sources of ideas. I have very few original ones. Anyway...here are some ideas for

Books

• The Beginner's Bible (toddler)
• Read With Me Bible (toddler)
• The Jesus Storybook Bible
• Big Truths for Little Kids
  
• ABC Bible Memory
• Through the Bible with My Child
• Egermeier's Bible Story Book
• Keys for Kids
• God and Me (girl - divided by age groups)
  
• Gotta Have God (boy - divided by age groups)

Routines

• Over breakfast, read a Bible story and go over a memory verse
• During quiet time, read a passage of scripture and sing a hymn together
• Read a passage of scripture at the end of each meal

Hope this helps in terms of a few ideas. Also, if you have any further ideas, I'm more than open to hearing them. I will need more ideas in the future.

How Do You Hula?

Thought you might enjoy Luke's hula hoop technique :)

Cubbies is Coming!

Luke and Hannah are very excited because this is the week - the week that AWANA begins and we will have two Cubbies in our home this year. We got their beginning pamphlets about a week ago. The verses are just review for Luke, but they're all getting in on it this year. It warms my heart that they are learning these in addition to the Cubbies motto (Jesus loves me!). It's especially fun when I hear Luke outside playing saying, "while we were sinners, Christ died for all of us" It's my hope that he will more fully understand what these mean and how to apply them to their lives.

If you're wondering what Andrew is doing...he thinks he is a cubby as well and tries to say the verses as well :) Hope he's not too bored next year!

Family Pictures 2010

Last weekend, we made our annual trek to get our family pictures taken. It went much more smoothly this year and I thought we ended up with some real treasures. These are just a few to enjoy!

Life's Latest Tidbits

Life, as usual, is going full speed ahead. I thought I'd take a minute and give you a run down of some of the latest things in our lives.

Luke has just launched into his last year as a free little boy. That's right, we have one more year with him at home before he heads off to kindergarten. I'm planning on making the most of it and I think he is too. I'm sure he'll fill as many as minutes as possible playing with his trucks. I want to hang onto my little boy who thinks puppets have a "controller" and that it is run on batteries.

Hannah is more than excited to be three, but can't wait to be four. She will tell you this several times a week. I think she was quite disappointed when I told her that by the time she was four that Luke would be five. I think she wants to be like her big brother. However, she is all girl! One of her words right now is "painglish" also known as nail polish to most of us.

Andrew turned from a toddler into a little boy the day he turned two. I love how much he expresses himself. Chris calls him a "little parrot" because he does repeat much of what is said. Plus, he is not going to be left out of any sibling activities. He spends much of his time lining up his cars and moving that line of cars. His biggest accomplishment this year so far has been potty training. When we were on vacation, he let us know every time we took him to the restroom that "I fall in". You can be assured that he has yet to fall in even though he will tell you this.

Chris just started another Master's class - Advanced Aerodynamics. You guessed it. It is not easy especially when math skills are a bit rusty. However, that will not stop my dear husband from persevering and doing well so far. He has two weeks down and seven more to go. Hopefully, it doesn't get too much more difficult for him (just because that make sit quite time consuming!) I'm so proud of him!

I've finished up all of our summer activities and am gearing up the fall and winter activities. I'm excited about them, but also a bit nervous because I want to serve well. I'm serving as AWANA secretary for the K-2nd graders again this year. I did this last year and loved it! I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of it again this year. I've also been asked to be a discussion group leader for MOPS. This will be new for me, but something I'm excited about. I'll have to let you know how it goes.

I'll leave you with one of Andrew's newest accomplishments followed by "I did it", which follows everything you ask him to do.

Family Time

We had a good vacation, but the best part was visiting with family. We saw Chris's parents as well as his sister and her family. In Indiana, we got to visit my parents, but it was extra special to visit with the kids' Great-Grandfather as well as my uncle and a couple of his kids. One of my cousins hadn't even met Hannah and Andrew yet. That's bad! Anyway, we had a good visit and took the opportunity to get this treasured picture.

By the way, as I was writing this, Andrew came up and immediately said, "grandpa" and got really excited. Plus, he stayed in front of Grandpa like that for awhile. He must have enjoyed his visit!

Vacation Finale!

Little farmers in the making

The John Deere vendor was a must!

They even had a pink pedal tractor for our little princess

Andrew "fishing"

Chris demonstrating the size of some of these tires!

Well, we've been home for a few days, but we've been busy and it's taken me a few days to recover from a really good time :)

We finished our vacation in Indiana. It was really nice just to relax a couple of days at my parents' home before some busy time in Indianapolis. It was much to our delight that we found out that the Indiana State Fair started while we were there. We used to go every year when we lived there and to this day, I still think it's the best one we've visited. They have tons to do along with a great variety of food. The Dairy Barn does not disappoint in quality or quantity of ice cream. Any of you who know me well, know that was a must stop for me. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and room in our stomachs for an elephant ear. We should have had one while we could since these are quite regional and we've found them at very few places around the country. Usually, we get an odd look when we ask about them :)

However, we did not spend our entire time eating! There was too much to see. We started in the tractor section (of course!) as well as an area that simulated a running farm for the kids. They did everything from getting the seed to getting paid for their crops and everything in between. From there, we moved onto looking at new vehicles. We're not in the market, but it's always fun to look a bit. After lunch, we did see some animals. Luke loves the animals, but the other two could definitely skip that part and not be disappointed. To finish the day, we did the Jeep experience. It was an expensive marketing exhibit that they had, but really neat as well. The kids loved the little battery operated Jeeps that they got to drive - or in Andrew's case, ride. Chris and Luke then rode through the road courses they had set up. I think Luke really liked this. The younger two and I enjoyed complimentary water while they rode. They just weren't quite tall enough - yet.

We had a great time and what a treat it was to visit the fair and to do it with my parents!

5 Pictures of the 5 of Us

Thought I'd just share some pictures that Chris took the other day - enjoy!

Vacation Catch-Up

So, I've gotten a bit behind in my vacation blogging. I guess that's just the way it is when you're on vacation.

Anyway, we had a great time visiting Chris's family in Virginia. That part of the country just doesn't look like it does where we live. Plus, the temperatures were so much cooler and a welcome relief. It was actually too cool to go swimming one day!

Just to summarize the remainder of our time there. . .

• We enjoyed a walk along a short trail in the Blue Ridge Parkway to a 1930's farm. Even Andrew made the walk all the way to the top and back. Luke enjoyed the chain that they used there and Hannah liked the swallowtails butterflies that we saw along the way.
• That same day, Chris and I went home early from the family outing sick with some mild bug, but it wasn't something an afternoon of sleep couldn't cure - thankfully, that was short lived!
• Our Robey family pictures turned out well. I always wonder and get a bit tense when there are that many little ones to try to do what they're supposed to :)
• We had a great time catching up with friends at an open house that his parents hosted.
• Visited a transportation museum. The model trains are always a big hit.

We had a really nice visit, but it was time to get back on road headed to Indiana to visit with my parents. It was a real joy to make quick stop at my Grandfathers home to visit with him and my uncle and cousins. It had been too long . . .

Today, we had a great day of rest with my parents before onto the festivities here :)